For some time, I did not understand all the hype surrounding hummus. I did hear people throw epithets around, but you know how that goes – you have not really tasted it until you have tasted it.
So last week I decided to make homemade hummus and it was really tasty. But tasty as it was, I was left thinking perhaps we should all diversify our palates by knowing what to eat with hummus.
I don’t know about you, but I do fill the need to shake up my dietary composition from time to time, which brings us to the elephant in the room; what should you eat with this delicacy?
Here we go:
1. Spread Hummus on Crusted Chicken
Your crusted chicken is bound to be a little dry, so a spread of hummus would do plenty of good as a combination.
Here, you have a free run on the kind of hummus you can use.
Original hummus is a great place to start, but you can also choose to go with the flavoured varieties that you can find in most markets today.
via Gimme some oven
2. Prepare a Healthy Sandwich with Avocado & Hummus
We have always known the avocado for its widespread nutritional benefits.
Combining it with tomatoes, baby spinach and whole bread offers a perfect balance of constituents in your diet and a great source of fiber.
A sandwich is the meal for all times, and this should be an added incentive to try this mix.
via Veg kitchen
3. Make a Hummus Dressing for your Quinoa Salad
If you like quinoa, go for this super healthy option!
Quinoa, black beans, fresh vegetables, avocado and cilantro mixed with a chipotle hummus dressing; how does it sound?
via A cedar spoon
INGREDIENTS:
– 1 cup quinoa, cooked
– 1/2 red pepper, chopped
– 1/2 orange pepper, chopped
– 5 green onions, green parts chopped
– 1 – 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
– 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
– 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
– 1 avocado, seed removed, chopped
For the Chipotle Hummus Dressing:
– 1/3 cup Chipotle Hummus
– 2 Tablespoons water {more for a thinner dressing}
– 1/2 lime, juiced
– 1/2 teaspoon cayenne red pepper
– 2 teaspoon cumin
– Salt and pepper to taste
PREPARATION:
1. Rinse the quinoa in a small mesh strainer. Set aside. Cook the quinoa according to the package.
2. While the quinoa is cooking combine red pepper, orange pepper, green onions, black beans, fresh cilantro and cherry tomatoes together and mix well. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl combine the hummus, water, lime, cayenne red pepper, cumin and a dash of salt and pepper. Whisk until the dressing is combined. Taste and adjust seasonings.
4. Once the quinoa is cool add to the salad along with the chopped avocado. Pour half of the dressing on the salad and gently stir. Taste and add more dressing to taste.
5. Garnish with additional fresh cilantro and green onions and enjoy!
4. Spread Hummus & Grilled Vegetables on Pizza
Plenty of people will say that pizzas are too fattening, but in this case, that is not true because you have a level of control over what you put in there and what you do not.
Spread your hummus over a serving of flatbread and then top it up with grilled vegetables!
via Budget bytes
5. What Else to Eat with Hummus? Make a Mushroom Soup!
I first got acquainted with mushroom soup a few years years ago, and I have never looked back. The light sultry feel of this soup brings about the real essence of hummus.
What makes it even more interesting is that you can tinker with the ingredients as much as you like and still come up with an amazing serving.
via Food Network
6. Make a Hummus Pasta Salad Instead of Using Mayonnaise
I do this from time to time, especially when I’m tired of mayonnaise. See, mayonnaise is very tasty, but it’s not the healthiest option.
Try the vegan recipe here below!
via Go dairy free
INGREDIENTS:
– 1 pound fusilli pasta (gluten-free if needed)
– 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives, rough chopped
– 1 cup fennel (2 small bulbs), finely chopped
– ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, drained and chopped
– ¾ cup roasted red pepper, sliced
– ½ cup chives, minced
– 1 10-ounce container dairy-free basil pesto hummus (If you can’t locate the basil pesto version of hummus, use regular hummus and add fresh chopped spinach, parsley and basil to the mix!)
– 1 cup pasta cooking water, reserved
– Black pepper, to taste
– 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
– Fennel fronds, for garnish (optional)
PREPARATION:
1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta cooking water.
2. In a big bowl, toss the vegetables (olives through chives) with the hummus. Add the pasta and pasta water, stir to combine. Sprinkle with black pepper, to taste. Taste, and adjust seasonings, if desired.
3. Serve at room temperature, drizzle each portion with splash of olive oil and sprinkle fennel fronds overtop.
7. Raw Veggies are Always a Great Option to Eat with Hummus
Raw vegetables have the one advantage that other forms of food do not – they are not cooked and hence smell fresh, taste fresh, are crunchy and also form the most natural foods around.
Throw in some homemade bread and the combination becomes as healthy as they come. Some people like to vary the composition as they go, and what works for you does not necessarily do for someone else.
The key lies in throwing in the little bits and pieces that make a difference.
My favourite veggies to eat with hummus?
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Red bell peppers
- Radishes
- Cucumber
- Endives
- Celeri
- Cauliflower
Conclusion
Hummus has been around for a long time, and some of us consider it the best food to ever come off the Middle East.
It’s amazingly easy to make, friendly at all times and works with just about everything you can think of.
Studies indicate that this dip is rich in all manner of nutrients and a lot healthier than most foods we take every day.
I find the dazzling array of ingredients in hummus very endearing. Here is a food that contains a combination of macro-nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates), minerals (phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron) and vitamins (A,B).
What’s not to like about this middle eastern delicacy?
Looking to share your experience with hummus, maybe offer insights to the rest of us while at it? Comment below!
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